Well , got to cleanin things up and found the main tine shaft not only rotted badly, but twisted and bent too, now I know why the right side tin was so tweeked! Done got a hold of somethin big! , well got the box halves and all the guts cleaned up and ready to re-assemble, I get a few picks of it in a bit, for now though, look at that shaft.....

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So that's what it looks like in there. I was kind of wondering. When I first fired mine up, it was rather noisy. I pulled a bolt out the side and squirted in some 85W-140 gear oil. Seemed to help a lot. I think the chains were a bit rusty.

Did you get new decals for your hood? IF so, do you mind if I ask where you got them? My LGT165's PO had removed all the decals and I would like to get a new set for it if possible!

Nevermind this one - I just saw the post about decals a couple threads down!!!!

Also, where are y'all finding all these Ford implements?!?!? (smile) I've been spoiled by Deere stuff all these years - much easier to find. Seems like Ford stuff is rare and hard to find, or I've been looking in all the wrong places!

LOL , everyone is still using there Ford implements ! I just found another LGT with tiller attachment a few towns away? Go figure....... When you don't need it you find it, when you need it it can't be had.... Like the lower main bearings... Rare as hens teeth, this is why it has not been assembled completely yet ...... Anymore issues with these bearings and this thing will be getting a KOA conversion!

45 minutes later and we have a new shaft made of E52100 aircraft steel .
Only need to whack out some new felt seals and we'll be good to go, although i was thinking of making 2 teflon spacers to keep the new shaft truly centered ? We will see how it behaves first, it may not need anything?

Ok, still waiting on bearings....... Dang it! I knew I should have modified these to the 4 bolt style !
Well, question; what type of grease goes into this box? And how much ? I have no manuals for it? And biggest question of all! WHO MADE THIS THING! Was it made by Howard? Or FMC, OR BANDINI? I have no idea, and it seems to be internet Savy in avoiding any identity theft.

Both tiller manuals I have only address the grease fittings. When I first got mine, I took a mounting bolt out for the cover and squirted a half jug of 85W140 gear oil while it was turning at slow speed. Seemed to help the chains. If you still have it open, try some motorcycle chain lube on the chains. Other than that, I can't help!

When Dad and I built the john deere hi crop, we had trouble with oil sweating out the shaft seals on the drop boxes, [ which just have gears and chain in like a tiller] we even tried 800w oil from a friend of ours that has a steam tractor.
What ended up working was just plain old chain saw chain oil.
But your build looks great so far

When I took this apart it had this nasty sticky runny grease like goop in it, and only felt seals at the shafts , the case halves were not sealed with anything ? So any oil would have surely leaked ? I have just the goop at work, I just need to get a quart or 2 , this is exactly what we use it for, it will stick to the chain yet not get hard and loose its oil like grease , and still run back to the sump.
I'll see what it is, and who made it later this morning, I need a coffee right now

Argh! Still no bearings! They have till Monday, then they can keep them, I'll change the entire bottom to use the new 4 bolt style, as they are more plentiful and far cheaper! Why do these engineers do retarded things like this........ Use a bearing that's almost impossible to get!